Characteristics of quantifiers moderate the framing effect

The attribute framing effect, where people judge a quantity of an item more positively with described (e.g., “75% lean”) than its negative, albeit normatively equivalent description “25% fat”), is robust phenomenon, which may be moderated under certain conditions. In this paper, we investigated the moderating effect characteristics quantifier term: format (verbal, e.g., “high,” or numerical, “75%”) and magnitude (i.e., if it small large quantity) using positive negative synonyms attributes energy vs. calories). Over five pre-registered studies 2 (synonym, between-subjects: negative) × (quantifier format, verbal numerical) magnitude, within-subjects: large) mixed design, manipulated orthogonally for differing valence. We also tested two mechanisms effect: whether was mediated by affect associated frame participants inferred speaker to about target. found that reversed in direction (vs. quantifiers, but not significantly format. Both level positivity partially mediation varied magnitude. These results suggest modifies one's evaluation frame, mechanism people's evaluations situation differ quantifiers.